It might seem as if the causes of noise-related hearing loss are functionally well-understood. After all, the name itself suggests a fairly straightforward cause-and-effect relationship. The universal understanding is simply that loud sounds damage the hearing mechanisms in the ear, resulting in long-term and irreversible hearing loss.
Though we’ve recognized this for some time now, we haven’t perfectly understood the inherent mechanisms behind it. But because of recent research, we’re developing a greater understanding of noise-induced hearing loss, including the role of zinc intake after being exposed to loud noises. Hearing loss and zinc management have an important link according to this research.
What is zinc? And how does it impact hearing loss?
Zinc is a mineral needed for carrying out necessary bodily functions and most people have an abundance of it. Zinc helps your brain interpret chemical signals and is linked to immune system functions. With a few exceptions, the vast majority of people receive plenty of zinc from their daily food intake.
At first, it may be challenging to see the association between hearing loss and zinc. After all, it isn’t instantly obvious what role zinc plays in your hearing. However, a novel experiment has shed some light on what’s happening.
Researchers exposed mice to loud sounds and performed a few analyses afterward. When exposed to loud noises, the same thing happens to mice as happens to humans: the delicate parts of the ear are damaged. In humans, this may first be experienced as a temporary muffling of sound. This will become more serious and more permanent as persistent noise exposure continues. This damage can’t be healed in either humans or mice.
After taking some blood samples from the mice, some intriguing results in terms of free-floating zinc were discovered.
Does zinc help or cause hearing loss?
Because of this result, scientists now better understand how noise-induced hearing loss symptoms happen. Typically, zinc in the body is molecularly bound. During the experiment, researchers observed that zinc became free-floating after the ears were exposed to loud noises and sound-induced stresses. Zinc most likely responds the same way in humans.
This zinc de-regulation ends up doing cellular damage to the inner ear, especially to the parts of the inner ear responsible for clear hearing. Scientists are now thinking that this is one of the mechanisms that causes hearing damage due to noise exposure.
Treating hearing loss
Over time, this type of understanding may help scientists prevent noise-related hearing loss from ever happening, even in those people who are frequently exposed to loud noises. However, it may be some time before those advancements become a viable reality. But there are still other ways to safeguard your ears.
So, you may be wondering: how can I prevent noise-induced hearing loss?
Here are a few steps you can take to protect your hearing:
- Limit your exposure to loud noises: Sporting events, concerts, and jet engines fall into this category. But there are some more commonplace noises that can cause hearing loss that might be surprising, and that includes things like a leaf blower, traffic, or people speaking loudly in a busy office.
- Consistently check in with your hearing specialist: Undergoing a hearing screening (and regularly checking in with us) can help identify damage early.
- Use hearing protection: Ear muffs and ear plugs can help your ears deal with noisy settings that you can’t, or don’t want to avoid. If you go to that concert, for example, use a set of ear plugs to ensure you can still hear, but that your ears don’t become irreversibly damaged as a consequence.
Understand the causes, protect your ears
Can you reverse noise-induced hearing loss? Sadly no. Though you can effectively manage this type of hearing loss and any associated tinnitus, it has no cure. Better understanding the causes of hearing loss and the mechanisms by which hearing loss functions can help hearing specialists (and you) develop better techniques and treatments designed to keep your hearing safe.
Although this research is promising, we still have a ways to go. But we appear to be getting closer to understanding. Your immediate role is to get your hearing examined and use hearing protection.